Louis XIV, born Louis-Dieudonné, officially began his reign over France in 1643, when he was a mere 4 years old. However, he did not assume actual control over France until the death of his
Louis XIV
first minister in 1661. He reigned over the French state from 1643 - 1715. "L'état, c'est moi" or "I am the state" summarizes the centralization of power under Louis XIV.
Political and Military Involvement
He was known as "Le Roi Soleil" or "The Sun King" because just as the planets revolved around the sun, the French political system should revolve around Louis. He had a monopoly over law and military force, which defined the political absolutism in 17th century France.
Louis XIV greatly increased the military presence of France during his reign, taking part in three major wars (Franco-Dutch War, War of the League of Augsburg and the War of the Spanish Succession). From 1667 onwards he attempted to take over and dominate the rest of Europe. The Spanish Succession led to the eventual acquisition of the Spanish throne after the Spanish King Charles II died heirless.
Spain, under the rule of Louis XIV, would later be attacked by the Grand Alliance (Great Britain, Holland, Austria and evntually Portugal and Savoy) which ended with a treaty, the Peace of Utrecht. The main result of this treaty was an establishment and balance of power, by dividing the Spanish empire between many countries.
Economics Under Louis XIV
Despite the inefficient lack of tax collection, his finance minister encouraged the development of glass, tapestry and silk industries in France. They were regulated to ensure high-quality goods in hopes of wealthy oreign buyers. It was because of this restricting government control that the French economy did not develop the private enterprise that was making Britain so successful at the time.
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which made it impossible for Huguenots (members of the Protestant Church) to live openly. This caused many Protestants to leave France and flee to countries such as Holland and Englsand. These Huguenots were the predominant sources involved in commerce, industry or the professions, their loss dealt another blow to the French economy.
France suffered a severe economic blow as a result of the War of Spanish Sucession, leaving Louis XIV's country with enormous war debts and a nobility clamouring for a share of political power.
A Modern State
Louis XIV worked successfully to create a centralized state which governed from the capital in order to abolish the fragmented feudalism currently in place at the time, which created a modern state. As a result of these measures he created an image for himself as an archetype for an absolutist monarch.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV, born Louis-Dieudonné, officially began his reign over France in 1643, when he was a mere 4 years old. However, he did not assume actual control over France until the death of his
Political and Military Involvement
He was known as "Le Roi Soleil" or "The Sun King" because just as the planets revolved around the sun, the French political system should revolve around Louis. He had a monopoly over law and military force, which defined the political absolutism in 17th century France.
Louis XIV greatly increased the military presence of France during his reign, taking part in three major wars (Franco-Dutch War, War of the League of Augsburg and the War of the Spanish Succession). From 1667 onwards he attempted to take over and dominate the rest of Europe. The Spanish Succession led to the eventual acquisition of the Spanish throne after the Spanish King Charles II died heirless.
Spain, under the rule of Louis XIV, would later be attacked by the Grand Alliance (Great Britain, Holland, Austria and evntually Portugal and Savoy) which ended with a treaty, the Peace of Utrecht. The main result of this treaty was an establishment and balance of power, by dividing the Spanish empire between many countries.
Economics Under Louis XIV
Despite the inefficient lack of tax collection, his finance minister encouraged the development of glass, tapestry and silk industries in France. They were regulated to ensure high-quality goods in hopes of wealthy oreign buyers. It was because of this restricting government control that the French economy did not develop the private enterprise that was making Britain so successful at the time.
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which made it impossible for Huguenots (members of the Protestant Church) to live openly. This caused many Protestants to leave France and flee to countries such as Holland and Englsand. These Huguenots were the predominant sources involved in commerce, industry or the professions, their loss dealt another blow to the French economy.
France suffered a severe economic blow as a result of the War of Spanish Sucession, leaving Louis XIV's country with enormous war debts and a nobility clamouring for a share of political power.
A Modern State
Louis XIV worked successfully to create a centralized state which governed from the capital in order to abolish the fragmented feudalism currently in place at the time, which created a modern state. As a result of these measures he created an image for himself as an archetype for an absolutist monarch.
~Julia Pasieka~